Port MacKenzie Rail Extension

October 132020

Project ScopeThe Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) and

the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) jointly propose construction and operation of a new rail line to connect the Borough’s Port MacKenzie to ARRC’s rail system. The port lies about 30 miles southwest of Wasilla and about 5 miles due north of Anchorage, across Cook Inlet. The selected route involves 32 miles of new rail line extending from Port MacKenzie to the Alaska Railroad’s main-line just south of Houston.

Port MacKenzie has a deep draft dock (60 feet at low tide) that requires no dredging and can serve the world’s largest ships (Panamax and Cape Class vessels). The port’s 8,940 upland acres and 1,300 tide-land acres provide ample room to accommodate bulk resource storage, transport and processing facilities, as well as rail and terminal facilities for efficient train loading and unloading.

The project includes an Environmental Im-pact Statement (EIS) as required by the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS and associated studies identified and analyzed feasible alignment alternatives, completed preliminary engi-neering design on alternatives, estimated construc-tion costs, and determined the project’s economic, financial and engineering feasibility.

When complete, the new rail line would oper-ate as part of the Alaska Railroad system.

Project Benefits• With the longest rail car loop in Alaska, the

extension offers highly-efficient offloading of bulk resources from train to ship.

• For Interior shippers, the new rail link shortens the distance to tidewater.

• Increased rail freight activity, and development stimulated by the rail link, would benefit railbelt communities through increased employment, contributions to the state and community tax base, and overall economic health.

Segment 4: 2015 summer work on a 140-foot 5-span concrete girder bridge over a tributary to the Little Susitna River.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 2

• With ample room for staging and assembling, Port MacKenzie is an ideal site for large construction projects, such as oilfield modules or pipeline assembly.

Project Status & Timeline• In June 2007, MSB and ARRC signed a Memorandum of

Agreement to pursue environmental work, engineering and alternative analysis in support of the Surface Trans-portation Board (STB)-led environmental document for a Port MacKenzie rail line extension.

• 2011: After an extensive environmental review process, the STB issued a record of decision recommending the Mac East Variant (Mac Central) and Houston South route.

• 2011-2013: Construction bids awarded to Bristol Construc-tion (Segments 1 and 4), Quality Asphalt Paving (Segment 3), and Granite Construction (Segment 6).

• June 4, 2013: Ground-breaking ceremony.

• 2014: Segments 1, 3 and 6 substantially complete.

• 2015-2016: Construction bid awarded to Quality Asphalt Paving (Segment 5) in 2015. Segments 4 and 5 substan-tially completed by fall 2016.

• 2020: Estimate 2 years to complete project, if funded.

Project Participants

• Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) – The local govern-ment that owns Port MacKenzie land and facility. The MSB is the project Sponsor and has raised funds through requests for State grants. The MSB co-manages the proj-ect and is responsible for public and government relations, and land use planning for the project.

• Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) – Self-sustaining corporation owned by State of Alaska. The ARRC is the

project’s Applicant, responsible for rail-related technical expertise, and for support of the EIS effort. ARRC co-manages the project.

• Surface Transportation Board (STB) – STB is the lead federal agency on the project with the authority to approve construction of new rail lines (including extensions) in the United States. Because the project requires federal approval, an environmental document was prepared to meet NEPA requirements. The STB, through its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) was responsible for preparing the EIS.

Cost and Funding• The total project budget estimate is $314 million.

• From 2008 to 2015, $184 million has been funded via state grants. No funding allocated after 2015.

• An additional $125-$130 million in funding is needed to complete design and construction of the project.

For More Information

Mat-Su Borough: • Borough Manager John Moosey at 907.745.9577

Alaska Railroad: • Regulatory & Corporate Communications Officer

Stephenie Wheeler at 907.265.2671

www.portmacrail.com • Joint MSB-ARRC web site established in 2007 to facili-

tate the public process prior to STB application submit-tal. The web site continues to incorporate project status updates and visual information.

August 2015: Machinery at work on Segment 5. Segment 5 grade work June 2015.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 3

Project Milepost and Segment Summary

PORTMACKENZIE

Point Mackenzie Rd

PORTMACKENZIE

DISTRICT

Knik G

oose

Ba

W. Susitna Pkwy

Hollywood

CowLake

POINTMACKENZIE

AGRICULTURE DISTRICT

PARKS HWY

SEGMENT 1(4.9 miles)

SEGMENT 2(7.1 miles)

SEGMENT 3(7.7 miles)

SEGMENT 6(1.8 miles)

S U S I T N A

F L A T S

S T A T E G A M E

R E F U G EG O O S E B A Y

S T A T E G A M E

R E F U G E

SEGMENT 5(3.5 miles)

SEGMENT 4(8.0 miles)

L I T T L E S U S I T N A

R E C R E A T I O N

R I V E R

N A N C Y L A K E

S T A T E

R E C R E A T I O N

A R E A

Big Lake Rd

Goose CreekCorrectional Center

BigLake

PapooseTwin Lakes

HorsehoeLake

RedShirtLake

Ayrshire Ave

Holstein Ave

Gue

rnse

y R

d

ReddaneRd

K1K2K3

K4

K5

K6

K7

K8

K9

K10

K11

K12

K13

K14

K15

K16

K17

K18

K19

K20

K21

K22

K23

K24

K25

K26

K27K28 K29

K30

K31

K32

0 1 2 3 Miles

PORT MACKENZIERAIL EXTENSION

PROJECT DECADMARE

MARCH 2019CONSTRUCTION STATUS

SE GM ENT S 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 & 6STATUS: Funded. Embankment completed. Little Susitna bridge, ties, rail, signals andnorth communication tower installed onSegment 6.

SE GM ENT 7

STATUS: Funding Required. Procurementand placement of ties, ballast and rail forSegments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

SE GM ENT 8

STATUS: Funding Required. Placement ofsubballast; south communications tower;fiber optic cable; Terminal Reservebuildings; moose mitigation.

SE GM ENT 2STATUS: Funded. All right-of-way purchasedand agricultural covenants removed.Clearing of rail corridor and Reddane RoadExtension completed early winter 2017.Funding Required. Embankment construction.

Z:\09585 ARRC\67879 Pt MacKenzie Rail Environmental Services\GIS\map_docs\mxd\permitting\Open House - 2014_2016\construction status_segments_March_2017.mxd

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 4

Segm

ent

One

Scope and Contractor• Length: 4.9 miles• ~ 4 million cubic yards (CY) of earth moved • Construct 3-span, 84-foot long bridge crossing over an

unnamed stream at Baker Farm.• Install 19-foot diameter 146-foot long steel multi-plate

pipe to create winter crossing at Lake Loop Trail.

• Contractor: Bristol Construction Services

Status• Began construction in spring 2012.• Completed in summer 2015.

Lake Loop Trail Oversize Culvert Winter Crossing

Baker Farm Creek 3-span Bridge

Building a Segment 1 winter trail culvert crossing fall 2013.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 5

Scope and Contractor• Length: 7.7 miles; ~ 1.1 million CY of earth moved • Construct three bridges:

— 5-span, pre-cast girder and steel beam bridge over Diamond Lake Outlet/Outfall.

— 3-span, pre-cast girder bridge over Historic Iditarod Trail.

— 3-span, pre-cast girder bridge over Iditarod Race Trail.

• Install 18-foot diameter 128-foot long steel multi-plate pipe to cross unnamed trail.

• Contractor: Quality Asphalt Paving (QAP)

Status• Construction began spring 2013.• Completed in summer 2015.

Diamond Lake Outlet 5-span Girder/Steel Bridge

Iditarod Trail 3-span Girder Bridge

Segm

ent

Thre

e

2013 Segment 3 grade work north of W. Susitna Parkway.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 6

Scope and Contractor• Length: 7.4 miles• 1.0 million cubic yards (CY) of earth moved • Construct three bridges:

— 5-span, concrete girder 140-foot bridge over Tributary to Little Susitna River.

— 5-span, concrete girder 140-foot bridge over Iron Dog Trail.

— 4-span, concrete girder 112-foot bridge over Houston Loop Trail.

• Closest residence is 970 feet.

• Contractor: Bristol Construction Services

Status• Began construction winter 2013.• Completed in summer 2016.

Little Su Tributary 5-span Concrete Girder Bridge

Segm

ent

Four

2015 Segment 4 grade work on trail relocation.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 7

Scope and Contractor• Length: 3.5 miles• 500,000 CY of earth moved • One trail crossing and two at-grade road crossings

• Contractor: Quality Asphalt Paving (QAP)

Status• Began construction summer 2015.• Completed in spring 2016.

Segm

ent

Five

Segment 5 grade work in September 2015.

Port MacKenzie Rail Extension • Page 8

Scope and Contractor• Length: 1.8 miles new embankment and widen 2.9 miles of

existing mainline embankment• ~ 630,000 cubic yards (CY) of earth moved • Construct single-span 118-foot long steel girder bridge

over the Little Susitna River.• Construct a “Y” rail connection and a new siding

adjacent to the Alaska Railroad main line.

• Contractor: Granite Construction

Status• Begin construction spring 2013.• Completed in fall 2014.

IDate: January 2011

Projection: Alaska State Plane Zone 4, NAD 83Author: HDR Alaska, Inc.

Sources: DNR, MSB, HDR Alaska, Inc., Hanson

EngineeringDesign Details

Profile View

FIGURE

Baker Farm Rd.

H-0.8 - Outlet ofDiamond Lake

H-4.3 - Tributary ofthe Little Susitna River

MP 174.3- Little SusitnaRiver

HS-1.0 - Tributaryof Horseshoe Lake

H-9.6 - Outflow ofMuleshoe Lake

MP 175

H-6.3 - Tributary ofthe Little Susitna River

3

Map Extent

MP 174.3- Little Susitna River

NOT TO SCALE

KNIK ARM

120-foot Single-Span Bridge over Little Susitna River

Segm

ent

Six

Seeding new embankment along Segment 6 in July 2013.